HVO reported that during 4-10 February lava flowed SE from underneath Kilauea’s Thanksgiving Eve Breakout (TEB) and rootless shield complex through a lava tube system, reaching the Waikupanaha and Waha’ula ocean entries. On 7 and 8 February, multiple explosions at the ocean entry were seen. On 9 February, booming noises and explosions were noted at the ocean entry; observers reported lava bubble bursts at 15-30 minute intervals. Seismicity and later observations indicated that the bench had collapsed. Incandescence originated from the Prince lobe, the flow that feeds the Waha’ula ocean entry. Thermal anomalies suggesting surface flows were noted on the coastal plain and on the pali.

The vent in Halema’uma’u crater continued to produce a predominantly white plume that drifted mainly SW; the plume turned brown on 5 and 7 February. Small amounts of tephra were routinely collected. Incandescence was intermittently seen from the vent, and sounds resembling rushing gas and rockfalls were sometimes heard in the vicinity of the crater. Geologists looked into the vent on 4 and 6 February and saw lava rising and falling about 115-120 m below the vent rim. The sulfur dioxide emission rate at the summit was 900 tonnes per day on 4 and 9 February, and 500 tonnes on 5 February; the 2003-2007 average rate was 140 tonnes per day.